Russian River - Fourth of July week

OK, I know this might be a little soon, but I need to plan! Fail to plan, plan to fail!! My family goes to the Russian River area every year for the week of the Fourth of July. Last year, I borrowed the canoe at the rental house and paddled the section between the Alexander Valley campground and the Del Rio, where our rental house is located. What a beautiful, secluded part of the river! It was gorgeous, saw only four other people at the launch, then nobody, except the herons, for miles!

We saw lots of fish that day, including some huge lunker steelhead, but we had no fishing gear. Since then, I've set myself up with a JK BigRig that I've had out of HMB A opulent of times, can't wait for salmon and rockfish to open back up! But back to the river,  I know the steelhead we saw probably won't take anything in July.  Sooooo, what should I target, and what kind of set-up should I bring along?

I'm usually a gear fisher, but I've got a couple of fly rods too, if that betters my chances. Any thoughts or advice on prepping for this trip?

This break in the weather has got me itchy to get OTW ASAP! I think I'll have to try out of Coyote Point for some stripers or halibut this weekend!

Now that my kids are in college, and not hangin' with dad so much anymore, I've got more time to fish! I just have to convince my wife of that now too!

I count myself as lucky for having met some of you already, I'm looking forward to meeting more of the NCKA brotherhood over this coming year!

Cheers! Jim

Other than steelhead, the main attraction in the Russian River is smallmouth bass. Bring some small plastic grubs and crawfish imitating lures, and toss those into any deeper holes and pockets you come across. They also like to hide in the brush at the edges of the river.

Good luck!

Toss cranks in crawdad patterns for smallies , occasional lmb and green sunfish. Logs , Rocks, deep holes where you can't see the bottom will produce.

You nailed it! between A.V. campground down to the Bagder Park area will find you in some GOOD smallie action. 2" rootbeer grubs (I cut em down alittle shorter.) w/ small jighead 1/16 I think but cant remember. Split shot where needed. Remember Barbless no scent. Them be the rules Leech pattern if you throw a flyline at em!! type I and II lines.

Question??  Does the new "low flow" ban on fishing count during the summer? I think the shut off point is somewhere around <300-500 feet per second. Year round barbless is enforced as well I think.

As always, check the regs before you take any fishing advice I give.

Question??  Does the new "low flow" ban on fishing count during the summer? I think the shut off point is somewhere around <300-500 feet per second. Year round barbless is enforced as well I think.

I think the low flow ends March 31 it's mainly to protect the Steel and Salmon

including some huge lunker steelhead

in July more likely Squawfish or Carp while true  there might be few steelies in river they are pretty elusive. I have done that drift  lots of times and haven't ever seen one in the summer hooked a few many years ago but they hide pretty good.

Thanks Mike, I knew you would have the info.

Continued thread jack:  I believe there is a ban on "bait" after March 31st. Do they relax that after a point?

No bait (including Scents or impregnated baits), Until Nov 1st. Single barbless all year.

Come have a beer with me in Guerneville! One of the best firework shows around. Not sure which day yet 3rd, 4th, 5th?
Always a blast! Town goes off in the summer.

My favorite fishing is the Russian River in the summer. 1/16 oz jig heads. 4 inch plastic worms w/curly tails, 2.5 inch grubs, 3 inch tubes. Also 4 inch senkos wacky rigged. Shades of green or shades of brown seem to work well. Here's a common sized smallie from the Russian. (8 inch hobie center hatch)

Thanks guys , everyone is right on this one. I own a house in forestville so I'm up every week. I've caught  smallies on senkos as well . Mostly w a split shot. There are about 6 or so good spots between stumptown Brewery and korbel hole I mostly concentrate in in my area. Most of the docks produce , uas well as the rocky slab areas around monkey island. Old concrete boulders from years ago underwater.  I had a 4# smallie chase lure all the way to the boat and turn away there. Biggest one I've seen personally in the Russian. Should be good this summer w the sun we received... Hope this helps.

Thanks for the awesome info guys! Today is my birthday and I'm already feeling the love!

I can't wait to hook into some smallies.

Chadrock, thanks for the invite! Might be able to make that happen, will have to coordinate with the war department first!
Jim